Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Wednesday 1 December 1999

Scottish Executive

Equal Opportunities

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to take forward its commitment to promote equality of opportunity for all.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Within the parameters of the Scotland Act 1998 and as reaffirmed in Making it Work Together: A Programme for Government , the Scottish Executive is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all; establishing an equality unit within the Scottish Executive by December 1999; and to ensuring that equality of opportunity is at the heart of policy making across the work of the Executive and more widely.

  I have today published a statement setting out our thinking on the framework for an Equality Strategy for the Scottish Executive. There will be a debate on the issues in Parliament later this week. We will then carry out wide ranging consultation. We will return to the Parliament next spring with a report on progress on the development and implementation of our strategy. Our commitment to equality is fundamental to our commitment to building a just and inclusive Scotland. Copies of the statement have been placed in the Document Supply Centre.

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the total cost for local authorities for each of the last three years and the current financial year and any estimated costs for each of the next two financial years of (a) pay awards, (b) redundancies and (c) deficits inherited from regional councils.

Mr Jack McConnell: The negotiation of pay and conditions of service for local authority employees is a matter for the local authorities themselves and information on the total cost of pay awards and redundancy payments made to local authority staff over the last three years is not collected centrally. Nor does my Department hold centrally information on the deficits which local authorities inherited from the former regional councils.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following recent outbreaks of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) and the continuing uncertainty over the origin of the original outbreak, whether it will confirm that it will not seek to change the classification of ISA as a List 1 disease under European Union fish health regulations.

Mr John Home Robertson: The matter is essentially one for the European Commission but we have no plans to initiate such a change at this time.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of evidence suggesting the presence of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) in wild fish stocks, ISA will continue to be classed as an exotic rather than an endemic disease.

Mr John Home Robertson: The European Commission has been notified of our findings. The evidence alluded to is small scale. More would be required before the Community embarked on the route suggested.

Government Services

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made towards the Prime Minister’s target that 25% of central government services to the public and businesses will be made available electronically by 2002.

Mr Jack McConnell: I am pleased to report that the Scottish Executive already meets the 25% target. Details of the present position and of our plans for 2002 are provided in the attached tables.

  The figures below provide a report on key dealings conducted by the Scottish Executive and its Agencies with the public and businesses. The majority of direct public services delivered in Scotland are provided by local authorities, educational institutions, the police, health trusts, and by UK departments (such as the Inland Revenue or the Benefits Agency).

  Results Excluding Payments

  


Scottish Executive 
  

Autumn 99 
  



Centre/ Agency (see key) 
  

Dealing (see key) 
  

Total Annual Volume 
  (TAV) 
  

Take -up % 
  

Capability % 
  

Citizen % (TAV) 
  

Business % (TAV) 
  



ELLD 
  

Grants to Business (1) 
  

497 
  

30 
  

30 
  

0 
  

100 
  



ELLD 
  

Grants to Business (2) 
  

738 
  

20 
  

100 
  

0 
  

100 
  



GROS 
  

Issue of Birth Certificates etc. 
  (3) 
  

122,000 
  

25 
  

33 
  

95 
  

5 
  



GROS 
  

Genealogical Information Search 
  

80,000 
  

39 
  

50 
  

95 
  

5 
  



RoS 
  

Property 
Official Reports 
  

250,000 
  

54 
  

80 
  

2 
  

98 
  



RoS 
  

Property Enquiry (L31A) 
  

400,000 
  

81 
  

88 
  

2 
  

98 
  



RoS 
  

Property Search Sheet Enquiry 
  

120,000 
  

67 
  

83 
  

2 
  

98 
  



RoS 
  

Register Titles to Land 
  

350,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  

2 
  

98 
  



SCS 
  

Court programming 
  

40,000 
  

50 
  

50 
  

10 
  

90 
  



SCS 
  

Criminal Case Administration 
  

213,000 
  

80 
  

80 
  

0 
  

100 
  



SCS 
  

Publication of Judgements 
  

600 
  

100 
  

100 
  

25 
  

75 
  



SAAS 
  

Student Awards 
  

451,760 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  



RAD 
  

CAP Grants 
  

314,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



RAD 
  

Farm Surveys 
  

84,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



HD 
  

NHSNET 
  

1,050 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



HD 
  

Chief Medical Officer (4) 
  

15,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



Departmental Totals 
  

2,442,645 
  

33 
  

36 
  

14 
  

86 
  



  


Scottish Executive 
  

Proportion of electronic 
  take-up by delivery channel 
  



Centre/ Agency (see key) 
  

Dealing (see key) 
  

Managed Phone Services% 
  (AEV) 
  

Internet % (AEV) 
  

Kiosk % (AEV) 
  

Inter-active TV
% (AEV) 
  

Non-internet exchange 
  of data %
(AEV) 
  



ELLD 
  

Grants to Business (1) 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



ELLD 
  

Grants to Business (2) 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



GROS 
  

Issue of Birth Certificates etc. 
  (3) 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



GROS 
  

Genealogical Information Search 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



RoS 
  

Property 
Official Reports 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



RoS 
  

Property Enquiry (L31A) 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



RoS 
  

Property Search Sheet Enquiry 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



RoS 
  

Register Titles to Land 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



SCS 
  

Court programming 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



SCS 
  

Criminal Case Administration 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



SCS 
  

Publication of Judgements 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



SAAS 
  

Student Awards 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



RAD 
  

CAP Grants 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



RAD 
  

Farm Surveys 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



HD 
  

NHSNET 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



HD 
  

Chief Medical Officer (4) 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Departmental Totals 
  

0 
  

10 
  

0 
  

0 
  

40 
  



  Results Excluding Payments

  


Scottish Executive 
  

2002 
  



Centre/
Agency
(see key) 
  

Dealing
(see key) 
  

Total
Annual
Volume (TAV) 
  

Take -up
% 
  

Cap-ability
% 
  

Citizen
%
(TAV) 
  

Business
%
(TAV) 
  



ELLD 
  

Grants to Business (1) 
  

880 
  

52 
  

100 
  

0 
  

100 
  



ELLD 
  

Grants to Business (2) 
  

750 
  

100 
  

100 
  

0 
  

100 
  



GROS 
  

Issue of Birth Certificates etc. 
  (3) 
  

160,000 
  

50 
  

56 
  

95 
  

5 
  



GROS 
  

Genealogical Information Search 
  

100,000 
  

55 
  

60 
  

95 
  

5 
  



RoS 
  

Property 
Official Reports 
  

400,000 
  

100 
  

100 
  

2 
  

98 
  



RoS 
  

Property Enquiry (L31A) 
  

500,000 
  

100 
  

100 
  

2 
  

98 
  



RoS 
  

Property Search Sheet Enquiry 
  

200,000 
  

100 
  

100 
  

2 
  

98 
  



RoS 
  

Register Titles to Land 
  

350,000 
  

14 
  

43 
  

2 
  

98 
  



SCS 
  

Court programming 
  

40,000 
  

100 
  

100 
  

10 
  

90 
  



SCS 
  

Criminal Case Administration 
  

213,000 
  

89 
  

89 
  

0 
  

100 
  



SCS 
  

Publication of Judgements 
  

600 
  

100 
  

100 
  

25 
  

75 
  



SAAS 
  

Student Awards 
  

443,300 
  

21 
  

100 
  

100 
  

0 
  



RAD 
  

CAP Grants 
  

414,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



RAD 
  

Farm Surveys 
  

84,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



HD 
  

NHSNET 
  

1,050 
  

95 
  

95 
  

0 
  

100 
  



HD 
  

Chief Medical Officer (4) 
  

21,000 
  

100 
  

100 
  

0 
  

100 
  



Departmental Totals 
  

2,928,580 
  

56 
  

72 
  

25 
  

75 
  



  


Scottish Executive 
  

Proportion of electronic 
  take-up by delivery channel 
  



Centre/
Agency (see key) 
  

Dealing (see key) 
  

ManagedPhone Services% 
  (AEV) 
  

Internet % (AEV) 
  

Kiosk % (AEV) 
  

Inter-active TV 
  % (AEV) 
  

Non-internet exchange 
  of data % (AEV) 
  



ELLD 
  

Grants to Business (1) 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



ELLD 
  

Grants to Business (2) 
  

0 
  

92 
  

0 
  

0 
  

8 
  



GROS 
  

Issue of Birth Certificates etc. 
  (3) 
  

2 
  

98 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



GROS 
  

Genealogical Information Search 
  

5 
  

95 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



RoS 
  

Property 
Official Reports 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



RoS 
  

Property Enquiry (L31A) 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



RoS 
  

Property Search Sheet Enquiry 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



RoS 
  

Register Titles to Land 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



SCS 
  

Court programming 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



SCS 
  

Criminal Case Administration 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  



SCS 
  

Publication of Judgements 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



SAAS 
  

Student Awards 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  



RAD 
  

CAP Grants 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



RAD 
  

Farm Surveys 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



HD 
  

NHSNET 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



HD 
  

Chief Medical Officer (4) 
  

0 
  

100 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Departmental Totals 
  

0 
  

12 
  

6 
  

0 
  

57 
  



  KEY:

  


Centre/Agency 
  

Abbrev. 
  

Dealing (expanded 
  description) 
  



Enterprise and Lifelong Learning 
  Department  
  

ELLD 
  

1. Grants to Business 
  (Res & Dev)
2. Grants to Business 
  (Regional Selective) 
  



General Register Office Scotland 
   
  

GROS 
  

3. Issue of Birth 
  Certificates etc. (excluding 
 local authority 
  issued) 
  



Registers of Scotland 
  

RoS 
  
 



Scottish Court Service 
  

SCS 
  
 



Student Awards Agency for Scotland 
  

SAAS 
  
 



Rural Affairs Department 
  

RAD 
  
 



Health Department 
  

HD 
  

4. Chief Medical 
  Officer - Communications to Surgeries

Housing

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its views are on the concern expressed by both the Rural Stirling Housing Association and the Scottish Federation of Housing Association that the proposals to introduce the "right to buy" for housing association tenants would lead to a reduction in the housing stock available in rural Stirling for social needs.

Ms Wendy Alexander: We fully accept the need to ensure that housing for rent is available in rural communities and will take this into account in the development of our housing policies.

Justice

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why the procedures for signing search warrants have been changed, whether this will take up more police time and, if so, whether it will review and reconsider the situation in the light of experience.

Lord Hardie: The Lord Advocate’s directions to the police and Procurators Fiscal in relation to applications for search warrants restated, with some modifications, the longstanding general policy of the Crown in this regard.

  A review, instructed by the Lord Advocate in 1998, disclosed that the policy was not being uniformly observed. The Lord Advocate’s directions seek to ensure consistency in the manner in which applications for search warrants are processed across the country and to limit the risk of important evidence being excluded.

  It is unknown whether compliance with the Lord Advocate’s directions will take up more police time in those parts of the country in which the directions will involve a change in the practice of the police. A joint working group, comprising representatives of Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, has been set up to monitor the operation of and compliance with the Lord Advocate’s directions, as well as identifying improvements to procedures.

  The Lord Advocate will carefully consider any available information in relation to the implementation of his directions and will take such action as appears to be appropriate in the light of such information.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected percentage decrease is, if any, in the number of inmates held at Cornton Vale Prison in 2000 as compared with 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available. Projections of the numbers of prisoners in Scottish prisons do not distinguish this level of detail.

Rural Affairs

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the extension of "woodschools" within rural environments, both to promote craft skills development and rural economic development generally.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Woodschool in the Borders, which I visited recently, is a good example of how craft skills can be used to enhance the rural economy by adding value to Scottish timber. We aim to encourage such initiatives, particularly those using locally grown timber. The Forestry Commission has set up a Scottish Hardwood Timber Market Development Group to identify, encourage and facilitate the development of markets for timber from broad-leaved woodlands in Scotland.

Student Loans

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the average time taken by the Student Loans Company to process the applications it receives within the current financial year.

Henry McLeish: The Loans Company does not maintain statistics on the average time taken to deal with applications. However, Ministers set targets for the Company in relation to the time within which loans should be paid. These are measured by academic year.

  Statistics on the Company’s performance for the first term of the 1999-2000 academic year are currently being collated and will be reported to Ministers after the end of the first term, once audited.

  Early indications suggest however that 99% of loan applications under the mortgage-style scheme so far have been paid within the Company’s 21 day target. Whilst it is too early to give an equivalent figure for the new Student Support Scheme, available figures indicate that well over 90% of correctly completed applications have been paid within the Company’s 17 day target for that scheme.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Finance

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what budget has been allocated to support the operation of each of the Parliament’s Committees.

Sir David Steel: I refer you to my earlier answer to Parliamentary Question S1W-718 from Mr Keith Raffan dated 10 August which confirmed that budgets have not been set for individual Committees but expenditure incurred by each would be reported at the end of the financial year when actual expenditure was known.

  The majority of direct budgets for Committee work are presently held within the Clerking Directorate’s budget. However, the budgets for support services to Committees are held by the relevant business area, e.g. broadcasting costs are met from the Broadcasting Office budget, the official report costs are met from the Official Report budget. Additionally, Members travel costs are met from a central budget. There is an indicative element for Committees travel, which is separate from other parliamentary travel costs allowed under the Allowances Resolution.